Cardiac pacemaker with collet-type lead connector

Abstract

An implantable medical device having at least one lead connector. The lead connector has a collet-type mechanism. A bolt is securely affixed within the header of the implanted device. The bolt means has a central bore for receiving a pin of a lead, and fingers for contacting the end of the lead. Initial electrical contact is achieved by the bolt when the lead is inserted therein. A nut threadedly engages the bolt to compress the fingers against the lead. The nut is rotatably received within the header of the implanted device so that it can both tighten on the bolt and loosen therefrom. The nut is manipulated through a piercable septum.

We claim as our invention: 
     
       1. An implantable medical device comprising therapy producing means for producing at least one electrical therapy for treatment of a patient;   a container housing at least some of said therapy producing means;   a connector external to said housing and in electrical communication with said therapy producing means for electrically connecting said implantable medical device to a lead, said connector having bolt means mounted on said container, said bolt means having a threaded shank and means for gripping said lead in said bolt means,   means for locking said bolt means in a predetermined position with respect to said container and   nut means having a threaded bore, said nut means threadedly received on said shank and movable longitudinally and rotatably on said shank for selectively engaging and disengaging said gripping means from said lead.     
     
     
       2. The implantable medical device according to claim 1 wherein said bolt means further comprises a bore for receiving a pin on said lead. 
     
     
       3. The implantable medical device according to claim 2 wherein said bore has a distal end and wherein said gripping means further comprise a circumferential lip extending into said bore adjacent said distal end of said bore. 
     
     
       4. The implantable medical device according to claim 3 wherein said gripping means further comprise at least two fingers extending longitudinally from said shank. 
     
     
       5. The implantable medical device according to claim 4 wherein said shank is tapered. 
     
     
       6. The implantable medical device according to claim 5 wherein said shank is threaded and wherein said nut means comprise a tapered, threaded bore and said nut means is threadedly received on said shank. 
     
     
       7. The implantable medical device according to claim 2 wherein said gripping means further comprise at least two fingers extending longitudinally from said shank. 
     
     
       8. The implantable medical device according to claim 7 wherein said shank is tapered. 
     
     
       9. The implantable medical device according to claim 8 wherein said shank is threaded and wherein said nut means comprise a tapered, threaded bore and said nut means is threadedly received on said shank. 
     
     
       10. The implantable medical device according to claim 2 wherein said gripping means comprise at least one opening through said shank and means for pressing against said pin, said means for pressing being received in said opening. 
     
     
       11. The implanted medical device according to claim 10 wherein said means for pressing comprise at least one ball. 
     
     
       12. The implantable medical device according to claim 10 wherein said nut means further comprise means for compressing said means for pressing. 
     
     
       13. The implanted medical device according to claim 12 wherein said means for pressing comprise at least one ball and wherein said means for compressing comprise a chamfer on said nut means. 
     
     
       14. The implantable medical device according to claim 12 further comprising washer means for retaining said means for pressing in said opening. 
     
     
       15. The implanted medical device according to claim 14 wherein said means for pressing comprise at least one ball and wherein said means for compressing comprise a chamfer on said threaded bore of said nut means.